<div dir="ltr">All,<div><br></div><div>Here are some comments:</div><div><br></div><div>The first three bullets are meaningless. They might be appropriate in a communiqué written by diplomats, but not among IT professionals.</div>
<div><br></div><div>The fourth bullet needs some correction:</div><div><br></div><div>In the first sentence (which is egregiously run-on) there is no evidence that the previous three points will in any way "enable Africa to integrate into the ICANN process." Usually that integration comes about through hard work and active participation. Also, can someone on the task force please Google "Africa is not a country"? The state of development, economic integration, education, language culture and commerce is vastly different across the fifty odd countries that make up Africa. This diversity needs to be reflected in our planning.</div>
<div><br></div><div>As a follow on, in the second part of the first sentence, the notion that the development fund will somehow allow the continent to "enter the Internet domain industry" is written by someone who missed the boat a long time ago. The Internet domain industry in different parts of Africa goes back 20 or so years. Again there is a lot of diversity in terms of local and national Internet development. There are a lot of skilled and talented people on the continent who can serve as partners, teachers, and role models for places where Internet penetration is not widespread. Identification of these local resources should take place. The we can plan on how Africa to Africa skills can be used to create appropriate interventions. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Lets look at some of the sub bullets:</div><div><br></div><div>Sub Bullet 1:Financial and technical support for African registrars. Technical support yes, financial assistance only under strict conditions. There are dozens of enterprises in the developing world (I've worked in development for much of the past 20 years) that started with easy capital and failed once that first injection of funds ran out. Instead, there needs to be an effort to identify and assist existing Internet/web hosting/domain name entrepreneurs in different countries to better understand and maximise their markets. As one or a few in any given economy begin to grow, then the "fund" can step in with higher levels of assistance and limited financial help. A key component of sustainability is sweat equity. You want to identify people willing to work until 10 or 11 at night and come back to work at 7 the next morning. These people build businesses. These people will build the Internet in Africa. Bring in a lot of up front money and the CEO will drive home at 4:15 in the afternoon to get his or her Mercedes washed. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Sub Bullet 2: Training on the new gTLD programme. Doesn't ICANN already provide support? And, as we have seen from the well-documented follies of certain gTLD applications, reading the directions helps. </div>
<div><br></div><div style>Sub Bullet 3: Can any one tell us in 25 words or less what is the role of the domain name industry in the digital economy? Is it the same across all economies or does it vary? Is there a need for capacity development? Who are the beneficiaries of this effort? What are the outcomes we would like to achieve? Capacity development by itself is a very wooly concept. We need to become very specific to take this forward. </div>
<div style><br></div><div style>Sub Bullet 4: Why? ICANN already does a lot to make the multi-stakeholder model available. I have followed ICANN proceedings from some fairly remote areas on my cell phone. There is a point about development that we need to keep in mind -- appropriateness. At a local level I here in Namibia would much rather see training courses on nutrition, HIV and Wellness care, animal husbandry, child care, literacy, etc. Internet governance issues might be better discussed in another sector. </div>
<div style><br></div><div style>Sub Bullet 5: Again, give those interested in ICANN activities the web pages for the web casts of the various meetings. Creating public fora for ICANN activities does not really need much in terms of funding. The Africann list is a good example. The real question is how many people in any country -- developed or developing -- are waiting breathlessly to hear the "Royal Readings?" (And other ICANN related issues.) Or, are they more interested in the content of the Internet as it affects their lives? If its the latter, then understanding the local issues and the legal and social mechanisms used to address these issues will be a much more fruitful exercise. </div>
<div style><br></div><div style>Finally, to whom is this statement addressed? What about the stakeholders? Who are they? How does the private sector (at international and national levels) become involved? Civil society? Governments? International agencies? The general public? Each of these groups needs a reason to get involved. Some thought needs to go into that process. </div>
<div style> </div><div class="gmail_extra">Best,</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">Ben</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div><br></div>-- <br>**********************************************<br>
Dr. Ben Fuller <br><a href="mailto:abutiben@gmail.com" target="_blank">abutiben@gmail.com</a><br>
<a href="mailto:ben@fuller.na" target="_blank">ben@fuller.na</a> <a href="http://www.fuller.na" target="_blank">http://www.fuller.na</a><br>blog: <a href="http://www.fuller.na/" target="_blank">http://www.fuller.na/</a> skype: drbenfuller<br>
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